Among the group of cigars slated for a 2018 release that didn’t make it out before the year was up, the most notable non-Cuban release is likely the black-banded Padrón TAA 2018 release known as the Padrón Black No. 89. Six weeks into 2019, the cigar is finally beginning to show up on retail shelves after shipping this week.

The company has been fairly quiet on the cigar’s specifics, though the cigar is available in both natural and maduro versions and measures six inches long with a 46 ring gauge, a corona larga vitola. Both are offered in 10-count boxes priced at $165, meaning a single cigar price of $16.50.

Those details match up to a 2016 release for Smoke Inn in Florida that was made to celebrate company founder José Orlando Padrón’s 89th birthday, which was also offered in natural and maduro versions, with just 200 boxes of 10 released in total between the two options. It was aptly named the José O. Padrón 89 Birthday Blend and also sported the rarely-seen black band.

Padrón has been a frequent contributor to the Tobacconists’ Association of America’s Exclusive Series Program, an offering of exclusive cigars for the approximately 80 retail members, which represent some of the largest and most influential stores in the country. The company has contributed toro and belicoso vitolas of its Anniversary 1964 line, as well as the Padrón 1926 Serie No. 48 and 1926 Serie No. 47.

Shortly after this story was published, a representative from Padrón corrected his initial statement to halfwheel that the cigars began shipping last week; that has been reflected above.

Avatar photo

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.